Hi,
I'm new to the Home Automation forum, but not AVSForum. I spend most of my time in the HTPC Linux forum. I'm looking to get into home automation. I'm new to it - if you don't can't various timers, motion sensor lights, my EtherRain sprinkler controller, my Visonic PowerMax security system, Zoneminder video surveillance system, and various jobs I have my HTPCs and servers do at home. I'm looking do a few things to start and then be inspired and learn and expand over time. Some of the things I know I want to be able to do:
There are a lot of options out there. I've looked through this forum and other places and have settled on Z-wave because of it's pervasiveness, support, and # of sensors available. I am looking at 2 different approaches to getting started (controller approaches):
1. Get a veralite or Hometroller Zee. I'm not interested in controllers than can only be controlled from a smartphone or via a cloud service otherwise I'd probably be leaning towards SmartThings
2. Run an controller on one of my servers using the Aeon Z-stick or some equivalent. Been leaning towards trying out Homegenie.
I don't want to spend a ton of time in maintenance but I'm fine with investigating and exploring setup and taking time to learn how to use things (I don't have much free time in a day, but I'm not in a hurry so I'll take the time I need). I'm pretty technically inclined. But since I'm more experimenting a lower budget to entry would be good so that's why I look at option 2 (plus I'm used to running many things on my servers).
Any advice on choosing between to the two options or another option/controller I should consider? At this point I'm leaning towards trying out 2 to start with. If someone has experience with Homegenie or some other Linux compatible controller software I'd love to hear it.
Thanks for any help you can give.
I'm new to the Home Automation forum, but not AVSForum. I spend most of my time in the HTPC Linux forum. I'm looking to get into home automation. I'm new to it - if you don't can't various timers, motion sensor lights, my EtherRain sprinkler controller, my Visonic PowerMax security system, Zoneminder video surveillance system, and various jobs I have my HTPCs and servers do at home. I'm looking do a few things to start and then be inspired and learn and expand over time. Some of the things I know I want to be able to do:
- Report when garage doors are open at times they shouldn't be
- Sense when my wife arrives in the garage and flash a particular set of lights in the house (So I know to change the channel if I'm watching something I don't let my little ones watch).
- Control a door lock
- Cut power to a portable heater and measure it's power usage when it's on
- Cut power to a couple of other outlets
- Be able to remotely control some lights in the house
- Monitor temperature, smoke, carbon monoxide levels
- Totally optional, but integration with my irrigation system and security system would be nice.
There are a lot of options out there. I've looked through this forum and other places and have settled on Z-wave because of it's pervasiveness, support, and # of sensors available. I am looking at 2 different approaches to getting started (controller approaches):
1. Get a veralite or Hometroller Zee. I'm not interested in controllers than can only be controlled from a smartphone or via a cloud service otherwise I'd probably be leaning towards SmartThings
2. Run an controller on one of my servers using the Aeon Z-stick or some equivalent. Been leaning towards trying out Homegenie.
I don't want to spend a ton of time in maintenance but I'm fine with investigating and exploring setup and taking time to learn how to use things (I don't have much free time in a day, but I'm not in a hurry so I'll take the time I need). I'm pretty technically inclined. But since I'm more experimenting a lower budget to entry would be good so that's why I look at option 2 (plus I'm used to running many things on my servers).
Any advice on choosing between to the two options or another option/controller I should consider? At this point I'm leaning towards trying out 2 to start with. If someone has experience with Homegenie or some other Linux compatible controller software I'd love to hear it.
Thanks for any help you can give.